A new outlook on the work of the great Italian architect Gió Ponti. A book focussing on three of the hotels he designed (in terms of structure, furnishing, design accessories, etc.) in Naples, Sorrento and Rome.
A controversial figure who was often misunderstood, Gió Ponti was one of the greatest exponents of Italian architecture of the 20th century. This book examines his meeting with a brilliant entrepreneur, Roberto Fernandes. A professional exchange which, through the building of three hotels, in Naples, Sorrento and Rome, marked an important moment in the architecture of the sector and in the design of the ’50s and ’60s as a whole. This brief account, richly illustrated with hitherto unpublished documents, designs and photographs, in which architecture and art come together, looks at Ponti’s thinking and the fact that he regarded the man who commissioned his works as one of the creators of each project. In addition to the main text, the book contains introductions by Lisa Ponti and Marco Romanelli. Fabrizio Mautone, Architect and interior designer, Mautone taught History of Contemporary Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture of the Frederick II University of Naples. He is involved in the design of furnishings for hotels. He works as a designer with companies which specialize in furnishing. His publications include Massa ed il Territorio Lubrense dal XVI al XIX secolo (The territory of Massa Lubrense from the 16th to 19th centuries), pub. Naples 1999; contributions to publications by various authors, including: Monumenti Porte Aperte (Monuments Open their Doors), pub. Naples 1996; Civiltà dell’Ottocento (19th-century Culture and Civilization), pub. Naples 1997; Negozi e città (Shops and Cities), pub. Naples 1999; Architetture e Territorio nell’Italia Meridionale tra XVI e XIX secolo (Buildings and Territory in Southern Italy from the 16th to 19th centuries),
pub. Naples 2004; he also contributes to the magazine Rassegna ANIAI.